Take a longer view of history by noticing the geologic features of the Gold Belt Tour.

Today's landscape resulted from multiple episodes of mountain building alternating with periods of flooding by an inland sea.

The sandstone formations in Red Canyon Park and the limestone cliffs at the Shelf Road Climbing Area had their origins in sediment deposits beneath this inland sea.

The remains of ancient plants and animals deposited during the flooding produced the rich coal and oil fields in the Arkansas Valley near Florence and the fossil beds at Garden Park and Indian Springs near Cañon City.

Closer to Cripple Creek and Victor, volcanic activity ending six million years ago shaped the landscape.

One volcanic cone was nearly 15 miles wide and rose 6,000 feet above the surrounding hills before blowing its top.

Look for Mount Pisgah and Nipple Mountain near Cripple Creek, both peaks were formed by volcanic activity.

Two buried treasures were greatly influenced by volcanic activity.

Veins of gold telluride ore in the Cripple Creek Mining District rose near the surface along the edge of one of the volcanic caldera.

Further north, volcanic mudflows and eruptions buried another treasure - plant and animal life of 35 million years ago - today's Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.